Floribunda rose plant named ‘Meipluvia’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Floribunda rose plant is provided which forms attractive blossoms having a salmon-orange coloration. The blossoms tend to be substantially uniform in appearance and blossoming is displayed on a substantially continuous basis throughout the season. The plant exhibits strong vegetation, a bushy growth habit, and dark green foliage with a semi-glossy aspect. No particular disease concern has been encountered during observations to date. The attractive dark green foliage contrasts nicely with the intense ocher blossom coloration. The new variety is well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation in parks and gardens.

Botanical/commercial classification: Rosa hybrida/Floribunda Rose Plant.

Varietal denomination: cv. Meipluvia.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida Floribunda rose plant was created byartificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed which previouslyhad been studied in the hope that they would contribute the desiredcharacteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) was the‘Macivy’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,362). The male parent (i.e., thepollen parent) was the ‘Meijulita’ variety (unpatented in the UnitedStates). The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows:‘Macivy’×‘Meijulita’.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new Floribunda rose plant of the presentinvention:

-   -   (a) exhibits a bushy growth habit,    -   (b) abundantly forms on a substantially continuous basis        substantially uniform attractive blossoms having a salmon-orange        coloration,    -   (c) forms attractive dark green semi-glossy foliage,    -   (d) displays good resistance to disease, and    -   (e) is well suited for growing as ornamentation in parks and        gardens.

The vegetation is strong and the blooming is precocious. No particulardisease concern has been encountered during observations to date. Thedark green foliage coloration contrasts nicely with the salmon-orangeblossom coloration.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry andcan be grown to advantage in the landscape where attractiveornamentation is desired.

The new variety can be readily distinguished from its ancestors. Forinstance, the ‘Macivy’ variety displays apricot/copper-colored blossoms,and the ‘Meijulita’ variety displays vermillion-red colored blossoms.When compared to the ‘Meidarin’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,291),the new variety displays a larger growth habit together with largerblossoms and foliage.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation in Franceby a number of routes, including budding, grafting, and the use ofcuttings. Asexual propagation by the above-mentioned techniques inFrance has shown that the characteristics of the new variety are stableand are strictly transmissible by such asexual propagation from onegeneration to another. Accordingly, the new variety undergoes asexualpropagation in a true-to-type manner.

The new variety has been named ‘Meipluvia’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character,typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. The rose plantsof the new variety were approximately two years of age and were observedduring July while budded on Rosa laxa understock and growing outdoors atLe Cannet des Maures, Var, France. Dimensions in centimeters areindicated at the bottom of the photograph together with comparativecolor information.

FIG. 1—illustrates a specimen of a young shoot;

FIG. 2—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud before the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 3—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thesepals;

FIG. 4—illustrates a specimen of a floral bud at the opening of thepetals;

FIG. 5—illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of opening;

FIG. 6—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 7—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 8—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 9—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 10—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the stamens and pistils;

FIG. 11—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing thearrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 12—illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

FIG. 13—illustrates a specimen of a main branch;

FIG. 14—illustrates specimens of leaves with three leaflets—planview—upper surface (bottom), and—plan view—under surface (top); and

FIG. 15—illustrates specimens of leaves with five leaflets—planview—upper surface (bottom), and—plan view—under surface (top).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart—1995 or equivalent), London,England. Common color terms are to be accorded their customarydictionary significance. The description is based on the observation oftwo-year-old plants during October while budded on Rosa laxa understock(no particular cultivar name and unpatented in the United States) andgrowing outdoors at Le Cannet des Maures, Var, France.

-   Class: Floribunda.-   Plant:    -   -   Habit.—Compact and bushy.-   Leaves:    -   -   Stipules.—Adnate, pectinate, and rather broad, approximately            1.5 cm in length on average, and approximately 0.7 cm in            width on average.        -   Petioles.—Upper surface: near Yellow-Green Group 146A in            coloration. Under surface: near Yellow-Green Group 146B in            coloration. Length: approximately 2.6 cm on average for the            terminal leaflet.        -   Rachis.—Upper surface: near Yellow-Green Group 146A in            coloration. Under surface: near Yellow-Green Group 146B in            coloration.        -   Leaflets.—Number: 3, 5 (most often), and 7. Shape: generally            oval with an obtuse base and a somewhat cuspidate tip. Size:            the terminal leaflets commonly are approximately 5.2 cm in            length on average, and approximately 3 cm in width on            average. Serration: small and single (as illustrated).            Texture: physically somewhat firm and thick. General            appearance: rather dense and semi-glossy on the upper            surface. Color (young foliage): upper surface: near Green            Group 141A. under surface: near Yellow-Green Group 146C.            Color (adult foliage): upper surface: near Green Group 135A.            under surface: near Green Group 137C.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number of flowers.—Commonly approximately 1 to 5 per stem.        -   Peduncle.—Smooth, approximately 4.2 cm in length on average,            and approximately 0.3 cm in diameter on average.        -   Sepals.—Configuration: longish and narrow, tend to be            upright at the base, approximately 2.9 cm in length on            average, and approximately 0.4 cm in width on average at the            widest point.        -   Buds.—Shape: globular. Size: medium. Length: approximately            1.9 cm on average. Width: approximately 1.6 cm on average at            the widest point.        -   Flower.—Shape: cup-shaped. Diameter: approximately 7.5 to 8            cm on average. Color (in the course of opening): upper            surface: near Red Group 30D suffused with near Orange-Red            Group 31B. Under surface: near Yellow-Orange Group 23B            suffused with Orange Group 29A. Basal petal spot: on the            upper surface near Yellow Group 13A, and on the under            surface near Yellow-Orange Group 16A. Color (when fully            open): upper surface: near Orange Group 29A slightly            suffused with near Yellow-Orange Group 23B. Under surface:            near Yellow-Orange Group 23C suffused with near Orange Group            29B. Basal petal spot: on the upper surface near Yellow            Group 13A, and on the under surface near Yellow-Orange Group            16A. Fragrance: none. Petal number: commonly approximately            58 to 62 on average under normal growing conditions. Petal            shape: rounded with a cuneiform base. Petal texture:            consistent and somewhat leathery. Petal arrangement:            imbricated, and without petaloids. Petal length: commonly            approximately 2.9 cm on average. Petal width: commonly            approximately 0.4 cm on average. Petal drop: good with the            petals commonly detaching cleanly before drying.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—Strong.        -   Blooming.—Precocious, and substantially continuous with the            formation of substantially uniform blossoms.        -   Resistance to diseases.—No particular disease concern has            been encountered during observations to date.

1. A new and distinct Floribunda rose plant characterized by thefollowing combination of characteristics: (a) exhibits a bushy growthhabit, (b) abundantly forms on a substantially continuous basissubstantially uniform attractive blossoms having a salmon-orangecoloration, (c) forms attractive dark green semi-glossy foliage, (d)displays good resistance to disease, and (e) is well suited for growingas ornamentation in parks and gardens; substantially as herein shown anddescribed.